《House of Blood》


 Betrayal

    In the kingdom of Dorallan, there was a duke named Cicero, who was known for his greed and ruthlessness. The duke would do anything to maintain his position in the kingdom as duke, even eliminating his own relatives in order to keep all the heritage for himself. This avarice came to be his demise, however, as one day his own son took his life while he was asleep, after discovering that Cicero ordered his wife to be killed. His son was sentenced, but died soon after being imprisoned, when one of his cellmates poisoned him, as revenge for being thrown to jail by Cicero.


    Disgusted by the actions of the now deceased duke, and seeing as there was no heir to the mantle of duke, king Thaddeus emitted a decree, stating that he would grant Dukedom to one of the many noble houses that could show a ¡°true proof of honor¡±. After this, the king made another declaration, that anyone who attacked with the intention of killing a close family member, should suffer the worst punishment the kingdom could provide. He did this in order to prevent the next duke or duchess from being so corrupted by power that it would harm their own family. All of the houses of the kingdom, big and small, stepped up to take hold of the prize, each one trying to figure out a way to demonstrate honor to the king.


    One of the many noble families, the ones from the house of Pearata, located in the capital city of Magne, was also highly interested in the king¡¯s offer. The patriarch of the house, however, being old of age and soon to be passing, tasked both of his two sons to follow the plan that he developed in order to show a proof of honor. The old man devised a plan, taking advantage of the current situation. This plan consisted in one of his sons to marry a woman from the rival house of Lanstrom, and unite the two families, ending the feud that they had. He believed that this would certainly prove to be honorable to the king, since family feuds and conflicts were very common in the kingdom, but few stepped up to stop them.


    In the passing weeks, after their father had died, the two brothers, Lucius and Primus, began to talk about their father¡¯s plan. Lucius, being the eldest, and the true hein of the Pearatas, should be the one to fulfill the task, although Lucius seemed to oppose the idea, as it wouldn¡¯t be a marriage out of love, but of greed. Primus, on the other hand, firmly believed that their father¡¯s plan was the wiser, as it would benefit two families at once, and would certainly be considered a proof of honor, this was also endorsed by the other elder family members, claiming that their father¡¯s plan was a wise one. Lucius agreed to the idea, as long as he could find a woman he truly loved, since he was not willing to marry just for the sake of dukedom. The following days, Primus proposed countless times that Lucius married one of the noble Lanstrom women, each time suggesting a new one, in the hopes to spark his brother¡¯s interest, alas, none of the attempts succeeded.


    One of Lucius¡¯ uncles advised him to seek the guidance of the gods, that through their help, he could find a woman to his liking. Agreeing to the idea, Lucius went to the temple of Magne to listen to the gods¡¯ wisdom. There, he saw a woman, one of the nuns of the temple, and immediately fell in love with her. The nun, called Serena, eyeing Lucius, at first saw nothing more than what she saw everyday: A handsome man going into the temple to consult the gods. An everyday temptation to be sure, but not something that could surpass her devotion to the gods, she thought to herself. Lucius went everyday to the temple to talk to her, at first she showed him great resistance, always excusing that she had important matters to attend, believing him, by belonging to one of the noble houses that sought dukedom, only wanted the blessing of the gods for that his house should be the one to be granted dukedom.


    When Lucius heard what Serena thought of him, he started to say his true intentions, that she was the sole motive for his presence there, that no lady other than her brought joy and warmth to his heart. Knowing this, Serena was shocked, but also happy, somehow. Never in her life no man complimented her in such a way. How could she, a simple woman at the service of the gods, and with no nobility, entrance such a noble and respectable man? After that, she started to get interested in Lucius.


    The other nuns and priests, however, were not happy to hear Lucius¡¯ declaration of love. She was someone promised to the gods, and no man should ever lay with her. The higher members of the temple promptly banned Lucius¡¯ presence there, as he was a threat to Serena¡¯s vow of chastity. Before Lucius was gone, the priests warned him that, should he still pursue Serena, his family would certainly never be granted the king¡¯s gift, for such an ignoble act would be remembered for generations to come. They also severely reprimanded Serena, forbidding her to ever come near the men that should visit the temple.


    A rumor started to spread that a noble man of the Pearata house had been banned from having access to the temple of Magne, and this rumor soon reached the ears of the elders of the Pearatas. They told Primus about it, and advised him to talk sense into Lucius¡¯ head. Primus, having known this, started to worry, since, if Lucius were to court her, and if her gave in to his advances, she would be breaking her holy vow of chastity to the gods, making the Pearatas a dishonorable name not only to the king¡¯s eyes, but to the gods¡¯ as well. He counseled Lucius to relinquish this idea, because if he still sought Serena, their father¡¯s dreams would be crushed, their family would be discarded from the dukedom race. Primus offered to choose a woman from one of the other major houses for him. Lucius was enraged by this, saying that no woman in the kingdom could compare to Serena, and he won¡¯t deny his feelings for her in exchange for some other woman. Primus argued with Lucius, stating that there was much more in game than just a woman.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Passing some days, one friend of Lucius, Clarque, a knight from the neighboring kingdom of Bouna, visited Magne, hoping to see his friend Lucius after the death of his father. When the two met, Lucius saw an opportunity to reunite with Serena. After explaining the whole situation to his friend, he asked Clarque to send a message to Serena, since Lucius couldn¡¯t enter the temple. Knowing that Serena was not permitted to talk to any men that went into the temple, Lucius tasked Clarque to deliver gifts to the temple of Magne, one for each member, and he must say it¡¯s a gift from the Bounan temple, to be able to meet her, and avoid suspicion. For Serena, Clarque should give her a book, and inside the book, Lucius put a message telling Serena to meet him in the outskirts of the city.


    Clarque did exactly as Lucius told him, and Serena, reading the message, left the temple, at the cover of the night, without the knowledge of the higher priests. When she saw Lucius, her heart was filled with happiness. The two talked, and Lucius proposed for them to leave the kingdom to live together as a family, he would give her a name, and she would be loved and cared for. When she inquired about him, about what he would lose: his luxury, riches, reputation, and most importantly, the opportunity of dukedom, he said that none of those things could ever compare to her love.


    Before they left, Clarque advised Lucius to think about what they¡¯re about to do, if it was worth it to leave his father¡¯s dream behind, but even if Lucius was willing to leave with Serena, he wouldn¡¯t stop him. Lucius told Clarque that he had decided to leave with her, and even if Clarque disagreed with the idea, he was still thankful to him, and if Clarque needed something, he knew where to find them, since Clarque was the only one whom Lucius told where they were going. Before the morning came, they left the kingdom.


    At noon, the sisters at the temple started to grow worried about Serana¡¯s absence, fearing that something could¡¯ve happened to her. Later that day, the sisters started looking around the city, asking if they had seen a sister the day before. Receiving no answers, they thought of asking the sentinels, if they perhaps saw a sister leaving the city. They denied knowing anything, since multiple people come and go from the city everyday. When asked if they saw anything that could be considered suspicious, one of the sentries claimed to have seen, very late at night, a man and a woman left on horseback.


    This could be the worst news that the sisters could ever receive, but that still didn¡¯t confirm it was indeed Serena. They needed proof that the couple that left the city, and with whom. Their minds immediately turned to Lucius, as they knew he was enamoured with Serena. After searching the whole city looking for him, one of the cityfolk appointed them to the house of Pearata, home of Lucius¡¯ family. Arriving there, they were met with Primus, Lucius¡¯ younger brother. When asked for Lucius¡¯ whereabouts, Primus said that his brother wasn¡¯t home, that he had left yesterday and still didn¡¯t return, a thing not uncommon for Lucius. The sisters were shocked and outraged, much to Primus¡¯ confusion. They explained that the sentries had reports of a couple leaving the city late at night, and they had reason to believe that it was Lucius and Serena.


    Primus, in disbelief, but also huge distress, tried to calm down the sisters, proposing to wait a day or two, as the evidences were few, and also reassuring them that his brother, despite impulsive, wouldn¡¯t bring this shame to his family¡¯s name. Primus tried convincing the sisters, and himself, that it couldn¡¯t be them, and give some time to see if they return. The sisters were furious, claiming that Serena might be in danger, and waiting could cost her her life. Primus offered to help them look for their sister, as long as they didn¡¯t tell the court about Lucius¡¯ possible involvement with the disappearance. This calmed the nuns, but they warned the man that they would only keep their silence for two days. Any second beyond that, the case would be handled by the royal guard, and the entire kingdom would have knowledge of Lucius¡¯ sin. If that happened, the Pearatas would no longer be eligible to be granted dukedom, as this was declared such a shameful act. When the rest of the family knew what had happened, they warned Primus that, should Lucius not return, he would take the blame for it, and the weight of shame should rest upon his shoulders.


    Passing two days, and both Lucius and Serena still missing, the sisters kept their word, and reported the crime to the royal guard. Believing Serena was kidnapped by Lucius, they pleaded in the gods¡¯ name for Lucius to be captured and imprisoned, should he be found. Primus, on the other hand, intervened, claiming that Lucius would not force a woman to anything, and it was known not only to him, but to the sisters as well, that Serena also had feelings for his brother, and she must have left with him by her own free will. When the guards heard this, they could no longer treat him as a criminal in the eyes of the court, and that this matter should be in charge of the temple.


    Despite all of this, the story soon began to have infamy in the city, and soon spread to the whole kingdom, to the point that it reached the ears of the king. Troubled by it, king Thaddeus called Primus Pearata to verify the rumors, and ask him why his family¡¯s name was so infamous in the city. Primus, trembling, explained the situation, softening his words so the king wouldn¡¯t be outraged by the story. That, of course, didn¡¯t work. The expression on the face of Thaddeus was of disappointment. He told Primus that he wouldn¡¯t nominate Lucius as a criminal, but since both Lucius and Serena acted in bad faith, blatantly disregarding her vow to the gods, the Pearatas would be known as the most ignoble family of the kingdom, and no ignoble should ever become duke. Things got even worse for him, since a few weeks later, the Lanstroms, after driving off a large group of bandits that occupied a nearby town, showed the king a proof of true bravery and honor, claiming the prize, as the eldest of the Lanstroms was proclaimed duke. Primus, heartbroken, stayed in his house, lamenting for days the fact that his father¡¯s dream would never be fulfilled, and that Lucius had failed him even after he tried defending his brother¡¯s honor for the whole kingdom. He then swore revenge on Lucius, saying that he would do everything in his power to see his brother suffer.

 Connections

    In the land of Bouna, birthplace of Clarque, in the small town of Ninna, a family, no more known as the Pearatas, but as the Peranzas, lived in humble peace. Lucius and Serena lived happily there, and they were able to have three children. The eldest was Blanche, a tranquil and fierce girl. The second was Ciran, a strong, brave and impulsive boy, like his father. The youngest was called Guilbaud, a boy known for his cleverness and for outsmarting his peers. Lucius and Serena gave everything they had to their children, Lucius taught them how to handle a sword and defend themselves, meanwhile Serena told them all the words of wisdom she knew, but most importantly of all, they gave them love and care.


    Blanche and her brothers were often told about their parent¡¯s story by them and Clarque, who was a close friend to the family, but often the children questioned their past decisions, asking why they would leave their revered status to live humbly in another kingdom. They wanted to go to Dorallan to claim what was rightfully theirs. Their father might not have been a duke, but he still was a Dorallean noble. Lucius explained that by relinquishing his name and status, he disgraced his family and could never return. He used to regret leaving so rashly, and said that, if he could go back in time, he would¡¯ve done things differently. Not because of his wealth or Serena, but because of the dishonor he brought upon his family and his father. This regret came to pass when Blanche was born, saying that, by seeing her face, he deemed it all worth it. He had the love of his life and three beautiful children, and no money, titles or wealth could ever compare to what he had.


    However, even after listening to the words of their father, the children paid no attention to them, they still dreamt of the perks that came with nobility, and oftentimes talked to each other about them. Their father always dismissed the idea, claiming that they couldn¡¯t return, and it could be dangerous for all of them, since both his family and the priests at the temple could be after him, for what he did was dishonorable to the gods.


    Meanwhile, in Dorallan, Primus spent his years rebuilding the reputation of his family. He proved to be quite useful to the kingdom, using his wisdom and intelligence to figure out solutions to the people¡¯s many issues. Primus became well-known in the population, and everyone had him in the highest regard, to the point that his own relatives declared him clean of his shame from the past. The king was proud of Primus, but reassured him that, because of the shame of his family, he couldn¡¯t be officially admitted to a position in the court. Primus seemed to accept this fate, and continue to gain favor in the public and the king¡¯s eyes, since he wasn¡¯t an official member of the court, he wasn¡¯t abound by the state¡¯s protocols, and could work by his own methods. This cleverness pleased the king, and he promised Primus that, should he need anything that¡¯s beyond his power, he could request the court¡¯s help.


    This, of course, was all according to Primus¡¯ plan. He said to the king that he had but one wish: to reunite with his brother. The man explained to the king that, when Lucius left, he did not give any clues to where he was headed, and asked for the king¡¯s help to find him. Moved by this, king Thaddeus told the royal guard to search the entire kingdom in hopes to find Lucius, and that no stone should be left unturned. Primus, seeing that his meeting with his brother was close to happening, started to prepare everything for Lucius¡¯ return. His uncles and aunts were displeased with the idea of having the one who brought them shame return, but Primus inquired them to forgive him, as he was still the same blood as their own. The preparations were interrupted a few weeks later, when the captain of the royal guard approached Primus to tell him that Lucius was nowhere to be found. This news disappointed Primus, but led him to think that maybe his brother left the kingdom altogether.


    Clarque, Lucius¡¯ friend, oftentimes visited Dorallan. He liked the pleasant scenery and the fair maidens of the land, and whenever he returned to Bouna, he always passed by Lucius and Serena¡¯s house to tell his stories with the ladies, and to deliver some news of what happened in the kingdom, most times asked by the couple, although Lucius not once asked about the situation of his family, as he did not want to receive possible bad news and be stricken with guilt. As a matter of fact, Lucius never mentioned Primus to Clarque, not even when he resided in Dorallan, although Clarque knew he had a brother, his name was unknown to the Bounan.


    In one of Clarque¡¯s visits to Dorallan, he took interest in a lady called Ada, sister to a jealous man called Emil. When he witnessed Clarque trying to court Ada, he furiously ran in their direction and punched the Bounan in the face, saying that no foreigner should ever lay a single finger on her. Clarque retaliated and the two fought. Ada, disgusted by her brother¡¯s actions, called the guard, who quickly separated the two man. When asked about the meaning of the fight, Emil accused Clarque of pestering his sister, but Clarque denied, saying that they were just talking. The argument was getting heated, and the guards, seeing that they were close to the Pearatas home, thought of taking them to Primus, so he could use his wisdom to solve the situation.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    When Primus heard the accusations, he first asked Ada what really happened. When she denied being pestered by Clarque, Primus asked the guards to inquire if anyone who was near saw the two together, and to report what they saw. A few minutes later, the guards returned, confirming that all who saw them, said that they were just talking. With this, the guards told Emil to go home and stay away from trouble, while also advising Clarque to be more cautious with the women around, as many of them had jealous brothers like Emil, and that his life could be in danger if he approached the wrong one. Nevertheless, the situation was resolved.


    Clarque, recognizing the Pearata crest embedded in the door of the house, was surprised to see that the house was respected by the guards and cityfolk alike. He knew about Lucius¡¯ concerns that his house might be disgraced because of him, and could barely believe the reputation that the house has gathered. Thanking Primus, Clarque told him that he was genuinely surprised to know that the Pearatas were that respected, explaining that, some time ago, he heard rumors about the infamy of them. Primus confirmed the rumors, telling him that years past, his brother left their home, and never saw him again ever since. Primus even explained that he was trying to find his missing brother, even requesting the help of the king, but with no success.


    Clarque knew that the man who he was talking to was Lucius¡¯ brother, since he was from the same family, and the story told by him coincided with what happened to Lucius. Clarque, feeling indebted to Primus, naively told him that years ago, a man and a woman went to his kingdom, Bouna. They didn¡¯t look like merchants or travelers, and soon settled in a small town. Despite telling all of this, Clarque omitted him knowing that it was, indeed, Primus¡¯s brother, and them being close friends, as he wouldn¡¯t know how Primus would react.


    When this news came into the ears of Primus, he was stunned. He begged Clarque to find out more about them and, if possible, take them there. He gave Clarque a badge containing the crest of the Pearatas, and gave it to his brother, Lucius, should he be found. Primus also instructed the Bounan to tell Lucius that he misses him dearly, and would give anything to see him again. This was only a fa?ade, however, since Primus actually planned to enact his revenge on Lucius because of what his brother had done. Clarque departed to Bouna, and told Primus that he would do his best to find out more about the couple that went there all those years ago.


    Arriving at Bouna, Clarque went to Ninna, and visited the Peranzas, however this time, before talking to them all, he called Lucius to speak in particular. Outside the house, Clarque told Lucius that he had news from his family, saying that he had met his brother, Primus. Lucius was surprised, but didn¡¯t know exactly how to react, because he didn¡¯t know if it was good or bad news. Clarque soon calmed him down when he told that his family, more specifically, his brother Primus, had a pretty good reputation among the people and the royal guard, also telling him how his brother saved him from trouble.


    Lucius was happy with this, he felt relief knowing that his family wasn¡¯t doomed because of his actions, but at the same time, questioned Clarque what exactly needed to be spoken in secret, as his family also knew his story, and probably also wondered how his distant relatives were. Then, Clarque told Lucius about Primus, about how he was missing his brother since he left Dorallan, and how he requested the king¡¯s help to find him, but with no success, and by being indebted to Primus, he told him that he might know where Lucius resided, although not mentioning his name. Lucius, hearing this, severely reprimanded Clarque, saying that was naive of him, as he might have put him and his family in danger. Clarque, on the other hand, told Lucius not to worry, as his brother showed genuine concern for him, and gave Lucius the badge Primus told him to deliver, and saying that his brother missed him dearly, and would give anything to see him again.


    Lucius agreed to depart with Clarque to Dorallan, but on the condition that Serena and his kids stayed in Ninna, so no harm could come to them, as he was suspicious what his brother, the royal guard, or the priests of the temple would do if they found him. He also told Clarque not to mention any of this to his children, as their curiosity could get the better of them, and their greed might make them follow the two to Dorallan, possibly endangering themselves. Clarque agreed, and passing a few days, they both departed.

 Reencounter

    Arriving at Magne, Lucius stated his desire to head straight into his old home, as he didn¡¯t want to deal with neither the royal guard or the temple folk. Having said this, they both immediately went to the Pearata house. There, Clarque took the front, as they were receptioned, while Lucius had his face covered. Finally arriving at Primus, Clarque explained that he did what he was tasked to do, and removing his cloth from his face, Lucius revealed himself to his younger brother.


    Primus was shocked, as Lucius was so different compared to when he last saw him, no longer wearing fine and expensive clothing, but a humble outfit. His face also changed, from a fierce and strong expression to some tired, almost sad eyes, nevertheless it was undoubtedly his long lost brother. After asking Clarque for some time alone with his brother, Primus hugged him, said how much he missed him, exclaiming that the house had not ever been the same since he had left. Having prepared a feast for his brother, they talked for some time, when finally Primus asked about Lucius¡¯ wife and kids.


    After being told that his brother¡¯s family did not come, Primus was a little bit distressed, as he planned to forcibly separate them from Lucius, so he could feel what he had felt when his brother left him behind; however, he thought that he might use this to his advantage, possibly separating them without the need for bloodshed. He explained to his brother that the Lanstroms had claimed the king¡¯s prize, after he had failed to keep their family¡¯s reputation, being known for that kidnapping incident long ago, and that the king had declared the Pearatas ignoble, unsuitable to be given any official position in the kingdom.


    Having his fears confirmed, Lucius expressed his guilt for what he had done to the family name, although he would definitely choose his family over anything, he asked if he could do anything to make things right. Primus took the opportunity and made his proposition: If Lucius wanted to clear out his mistakes, he should stay in Dorallan, abandon and forget his family, and start anew, so that they might have their status restored. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    The disgust and anger on Lucius¡¯ face was notable, and shouted at his brother for making such a ridiculous request, saying that, although his past deeds brought him shame, he could never forgive himself if he did such thing, that he loved his family more than anything that he used to have in his old life as a noble. The screams were so loud that even the other family members could hear them from their own quarters. Primus, maintaining the same calm expression, saying it would be an equivalent sacrifice, reminding him that it was because of him that their father¡¯s wishes were crushed by Lucius when he abandoned his family, and that was the only way to atone for his mistakes.


    Lucius had no answer, he knew that, despite his brother¡¯s now renowned reputation, he left behind a stain of infamy and shame upon his family. With his brother¡¯s silence, Primus said that he did not need to say anything, and if Lucius was to accept his proposition, that he should just stay at his former home. Of course, this wasn''t all of Primus¡¯ plan, he had sent spies to investigate the kingdom of Bouna, to possibly find his brother¡¯s wife and kids, and hold them hostage, making Lucius do whatever he wanted. Despite all of that, Lucius didn¡¯t plan on staying, as he could not abandon his family. He planned to sneak away from his home at an opportune time and rush back to Ninna. After telling Clarque how the meeting went, he explained that he couldn¡¯t abandon his family a second time, and planned to return to them as soon as possible. When Primus left the house to help with a situation downtown, Lucius quickly snook out of the home and left Dorallan with Clarque.


    Primus was expecting this, however. He advised one of his spies to stay in Dorallan in case Lucius returned to his wife and kids at Bouna, and told him that, should they escape, to follow them and report on the location of his home. Weeks later, the spy returned, telling Primus that his brother resided in a small town called Ninna. Primus paid the spy, thanking him for gathering such important information. When asked about what he was going to do, Primus explained that, for the time being, he should wait, as his brother¡¯s nerves would be too hot to do anything. This time, he was determined to kill, but he would need some planning to do. His idea needed to have all of them in Dorallan, as he didn¡¯t want to leave any loose ends, because if any of them survived, they could seek revenge, and completely ruin his schemes.

 Toxicity

    After a few years, Primus started to act once again. Understanding the bond that his brother shared with Serena, he decided to court one of the ladies of Dorallan and propose to her, not because of love, but because he was sure that by claiming that love opened his eyes, and finally understanding what his brother did all those years ago, that would make Lucius forgive what he had said in their previous encounter, and he could use the wedding as an opportunity to invite all of his brother¡¯s family, putting all of them in his hand.


    Primus sent two messengers to Ninna, to invite Lucius and his family to his wedding. Arriving there, they introduced themselves, saying that they were there on the Pearatas¡¯ behest, and had a letter from Primus to the whole family. In the letter, it was written:


    ¡°Lucius, my dear brother, through this written message I come to humbly apologize for my previously mindless behaviour and manner of speech. I know what I said was terrible, but I implore you to consider that I did not yet understand the power that love possessed. You see, I, too, have fallen in love with someone. Her name is Laura, and now I finally understand what you did all those years ago, and why. If I was in your place, I¡¯d do the same for her, so please, I beg you accept my apologies.


    However, I also bring good news. As me and Laura are soon to be wed, this ceremony would feel incomplete without you and your family. After being apart for so long, your presence would be most desirable in this momentous occasion. Don¡¯t worry about your wife and your kids¡¯ safety, as I already resolved this matter with the temple and the royal guard, so none of you should face any sort of trouble.


    Should you accept this invitation, please follow my two messengers to Dorallan. I guarantee you all shall arrive here safely, and be received with open arms by all of us.


    Primus Pearata.¡±


    Despite the tone of the letter, Lucius was still somewhat suspicious about the whole thing, never mind the fact that, somehow, his brother found out where he and his family lived. Asking the messengers how they knew where he was located, they said exactly what Primus told the to say if they were questioned about this, that his friend, Clarque, told his brother where he lived. This, of course, contradicted what Clarque told him previously, that despite saying to Primus that he had a clue about where Lucius was located, he never specified the place. This either meant that Clarque lied to him, or that Primus had a contact in Bouna that spied on them. Lucius knew that Clarque wasn¡¯t at fault, he was naive and sometimes clumsy, but never a liar.


    Due to this, Lucius said that they wouldn¡¯t go, as he didn¡¯t trust his brother, especially after what he said during his last visit to Dorallan. Serena, meanwhile, argued with him, saying that despite all the shame he had brought upon his family name, Primus was still willing to forgive him, and now should be the time to do the same. After listening to the words of his loving wife, and the overwhelming excitement of his children, now in their late teens, to finally know their parents¡¯ former homeplace, they agreed to part with the messengers, but only after Lucius resolved the matter with Clarque. Lucius then went to his friend¡¯s house alone, in order to inquire about his conversation with Primus. After listening to Lucius¡¯ worries, Clarque reassured him that such information was not shared to his brother, and that it was probably the work of his brother, using the help of spies or guards, that his location was discovered. Lucius was relieved, and had faith in his friend that he wouldn¡¯t do anything to harm him or his family, but as he was still suspicious of his brother, he told Clarque about his thoughts that Primus wanted to separate him from his wife and kids. Due to this, Lucius asked Clarque to stay in Bouna in case anything happened to him or his family, and if any one of them was found in trouble, they should seek him. Clarque agreed to the conditions to stay in Bouna until at least one of them returned safely. With this matter solved, Lucius returned to his house, and the next day, he and his family parted with the messengers.


    When they reached their destination, Blanche, Ciran and Guilbaud were amazed by everything: The big houses, the streets, the people with fancy clothing¡­ all of it was so new and exciting for them. Serena remained calm, although she wondered how her former sisters were faring. Lucius was still suspicious about it, but being able to see his uncles, aunts and cousins again did lighten his heart a little bit. Primus welcomed his brother and his family with a beautiful party, finally getting to meet his nephews, who were excited about finally knowing their distant relatives.


    The wedding was a few days away still, and Primus prepared rooms, food and clothing for all of them to stay and enjoy some time in Magne before the festivities, in order to give them a false sense of security and comfort. Blanche decided to walk around the city and get to know everything before they left. When she was walking around, a young man named Otho saw her and was admired by her beauty. Approaching her, he introduced himself and they began to talk. The conversation had a turn when Blanche, seeing that his clothes were not of high prestige and his expression was simple, started to sarcastically ask him what he was doing in a city so rich like Magne. Otho replied saying that, even if his family was not the wealthiest of the worthiest, he was still proud of his lineage, as he witnessed that most of the rich families often have internal feuds because of money and pride, and despite his background, his parents and relatives always were there for one another. After some time, Otho left, saying that he hoped that someday, Blanche would understand his point of view, that no matter what her ancestry is wealthy or not, she should be proud of what she had.


    Ciran, curious to find out more about his family background, and how did his father acquire his swordsmanship skills, questioned and trained with his relatives, learning all sorts of new skills. Visiting the armory of the Pearata¡¯s house, he was fascinated with all sorts of equipment and weapons made from all sorts of different metals, recognizing the wealth that his father¡¯s family had. Ciran began to question even more about his father¡¯s decision to leave all of this behind, but ultimately didn¡¯t care much, since now he was able to witness all of it, even if it was temporary.


    Guilbaud was interested in his uncle¡¯s methods, as he had garnered a reputation of a very wise counselor, albeit not officially a member of the royal council. He inquired his uncle about his knowledge, and spent some days studying everything that he wanted from the royal archives. After some time, he started to feel resentment towards his father, for denying him such vast knowledge for so long, because, in Guilbaud¡¯s point of view, selfish concerns. The young man lamented the fact that he couldn¡¯t study everything the archive had to offer in mere days, and developed an angry and rebellious attitude to Lucius, a thing Primus noticed and made sure to take note of it.


    When the day of the wedding came, Primus prepared a special poison, planning to use it to poison Serena¡¯s chalice of wine. He targeted her first because, if not for her, Lucius would have married a noble lady from one of the other big houses, and his father¡¯s dream wouldn¡¯t have been destroyed. He also realized that this would bring inconceivable pain and suffering to his brother, since this was exactly his goal, he decided to get rid of Serena first.


    Everyone from the Pearata house was present at the wedding, and even some folks from the highest class made their presence there. After the ceremony, Primus receptioned his guests to a big feast. Primus had already prepared for the poisoned wine chalice to be at his brother and Serena¡¯s table, specifically put next to her seat. Before she could even drink it, however, Lucius raised a toast and a blessing for his brother and his wife, making a long speech about how their father would¡¯ve loved to witness this, and congratulating him for having an amazing feast, something that he didn¡¯t have with Serena. Having his back to the table, when he turned around to grab his chalice, he mistakenly took the poisoned chalice and, having finished his speech, drank from it.


    Although the poison did not have an immediate effect. After some minutes, Lucius told his wife that he was feeling unwell, and barely after an hour, he collapsed on the ground. Everyone was shocked, but most of all was Primus, who did not expect this turn of events. After requesting the help of the healers, they stated that Lucius wasn¡¯t dead, but his health condition was critical. This was due to the fact that the amount of poison in the chalice was enough to kill Serena, but not Lucius, as his physical condition was better than hers, even still, he barely managed to survive. Primus ended the ceremony, and hastily took his brother to their house, with the help of his sister-in-law and nephews.


    The next day, Primus called the royal guard to investigate, and said he would never rest until the one who tried to kill his brother, was punished. This, of course, was a stunt to turn away any suspicion from him, and to keep the image of a worried and loving brother. After days of investigating with no leads, the guard interrupted the investigation momentarily, and told Primus that, should he ever find something that may be a clue to who the criminal was, he must report to them.


    Bedridden, Lucius remained unconscious for almost an entire day, and when he finally woke up, he was still in bad health conditions. All of his uncles, aunts and cousins visited him to wish him well, even Laura went to his chamber to hope for a quick recovery. Primus, acting like he felt guilty for having allowed his brother to be poisoned at his own wedding, told all members of the house that he should be the one responsible to take personal care for his brother. After hearing this, Lucius asked Primus for some private time with his wife and children, so that they could talk. His brother left the room with the healers, leaving Lucius alone with his family.


    There, the weak and sick man told his children that he was very suspicious of his brother, and he believed that Primus was the one that made an attempt at his life. Explaining his reasons, he advised all of them to not trust his brother, but to remain acting normal, as if nothing had changed. He also apologized to his children for not giving them the life and heritage that they wanted, but said that maybe now he could make up for it. He tasked their children that, as soon as the conversation was over, each one should pick an heirloom in the Pearata treasury. To Blanche, he instructed her to get a necklace with the symbol of a lion, as she was the elder and had to lead her brothers. To Ciran, he told him to get an amulet with the symbol of a bear, for he was to be strong to keep them together, and be prepared to fight. To Guilbaud, he said for him to get a necklace with the symbol of an eagle, because of his foresight, he was to watch his siblings¡¯ backs and intelligently plan their battles, also told all three to get a sword with the Pearata crest on the hilt. Lucius also apologized to Serena, for not being able to give her the feast and ceremony that they deserved, and gave her a ring with the symbol of the Pearatas. Serena said that there was nothing to apologize, that his love and their children was the best gift she could ever receive. Their children, however, remained silent the whole conversation. Before he was done, Lucius said that, should anything happen to him, for them to escape Dorallan as soon as they could and seek Clarque in Bouna, because even if he died, he deserved it for his sins of the past, but none of they should come to any harm due to him. After that, he dismissed them, and the child did as instructed. Serena, however, remained in the room with Lucius.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Primus knew that his brother was starting to get suspicious of him, and if anything happened to his wife or children, Lucius could accuse him of doing it. Even if Lucius¡¯ accusations had no proof to back them up, this could tarnish his reputation. Primus then decided to take his brother¡¯s life, and after Lucius was dead, he would kill Serena and his nephews too, as they were the offspring of that shameful relationship. It would be troublesome to get some time with his brother, as he always had company in his room, mostly from Serena, so Primus sent messengers to the temple, to explain the situation and purposely cause a ruckus. Like expected, the priests did not care for the state of Lucius, in fact they were quite pleased when they heard the news, as they believed this to be a punishment from the gods because of what he had done. When Serena knew about this, she was enraged, and stormed to the temple to solve this matter.


    Meanwhile, Blanche sought Otho, as he previously said that his father was a blacksmith, in order to reforge and reinforce the swords that Lucius gave to her and her brothers. While his father was working, Otho and Blanche were talking, most of it was Blanche explaining what had happened, to the young man. The distress and confusion were very apparent in the girl¡¯s eyes, a thing that Otho noticed, and proceeded to ask her what was on her mind. She replied by saying that she couldn¡¯t understand what was happening, why someone made an attempt on her father¡¯s life, and had even more questions as to why did her father suspected her uncle to be the culprit. Otho answered the same thing he had said in the last time they saw each other, that noble families oftentimes have these sort of intern feuds, and that even his family not being wealthy, he was grateful for everything they had done for him, that they gave him more than just money and titles, they gave him a name and a place he could feel a part of. Thinking about what he said, Blanche asked the blacksmith to remove the crest of the Pearatas from the weapons, and adorn them with a new crest: A tree, symbolizing the family, a brand new crest for the Peranzas.


    When Serena arrived at the temple, the priests and nuns were not happy to see her, as she was branded a blasphemer for having disregarded her vows. Arguing with them about the way of the gods, citing forgiveness and compassion, begging them to forgive and forget what he had done, and to be compassionate to him and to her, as she was also suffering by seeing her husband so sick. These words went into deaf ears, however, as the priests exclaimed that they were receiving their punishment for the blasphemy they had committed. After hours of argument and the priests being irreducible in their resolve, Serena decided to go home, heartbroken.


    However, while Serena was at the temple, Primus had the golden opportunity to finally enact his revenge on his brother. He couldn¡¯t use any weapons, as it would be easy for him to be caught, he had to do it without spilling blood, leaving the fewest clues possible. This time, he got hands on a new type of poison, more deadly than the last one. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, he poured a big dose of the poison on his brother¡¯s drink, so much so, that half of the drink was pure poison. Waiting for the healers to leave, he went to his brother¡¯s room and gave him food and the poisoned drink. Before leaving, Primus said to his brother that he wished none of this happened, that if Lucius heard his warnings, his family wouldn¡¯t be disgraced, and he wouldn¡¯t be bedridden. After taking the first sip of the poisoned drink, Lucius died within seconds. He died so quickly that the cup dropped from his hand, staining the carpet that was close to the bed. Primus heard the cup hitting the ground, as he was behind the door waiting for the moment his brother died, he then entered the room and retrieved the cup. He also noticed the stained carpet, but couldn¡¯t do anything about it, as it would seem suspicious.


    When Serena finally arrived at the house, she went straight to Lucius¡¯ room to be with him, as the priests and nuns at the temple refused to ask the gods for an intervention. Entering the room, and seeing his dead husband, she let out a very loud scream and cried heavily. Alerting the entire house with her scream, everyone ran to where she was, and when they saw the dead man laying there, they all cried in shock. Primus did his best to convincingly show grief and sadness, and promised to find the murderer and make him or her pay. Primus ordered the house servants to take the corpse of his brother away, in order to prepare his funeral.


    Later that day, the funeral took place. Everyone from the Pearata house was present, as well as some other friends of the family. Otho was present too, as he heard the news from Blanche and wanted to be there to mourn with his friend. Almost all of the relatives of Lucius gave a short speech about him, saying that he would be missed. The only ones who didn¡¯t say anything were his children, as they couldn¡¯t understand why this was all happening, and felt strong guilt for always demanding of their father the luxuries of nobility, when they already had everything money cannot buy.


    Primus hastily contacted the royal guard to investigate the crime scene, when they arrived, their eyes immediately turned to the stained carpet. One of the guards took a drop of the liquid with his finger and tasted it, and before he could say anything, he started coughing heavily and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The other guards realized it was a really strong poison, and advised everyone to keep their distance. Some of them left, taking the poisoned guard away before his condition got worse.


    The guard that stayed interrogated some family members to try to figure out who was the murderer. Most of them answered the same, that the only company he had was his wife, his children, and the healers, although one of them said that they saw Primus bringing Lucius some food. When the guard interrogated Primus, he admitted to giving food to his brother, but that was it. By the request of the guard, they entered the room and Primus ate the food, as proof that it wasn¡¯t also poisoned. When the guard asked him if he had saw anything suspicious, Primus said that he saw the youngest son of Lucius enter the room with a cup, and that he suspected that he was the one to poison his brother, this was, of course, a lie, but Primus planned to accuse his nephews of killing their father. The guard asked why he would be suspicious of his nephew, but Primus explained that Guilbaud was acting harshly towards his father, and that he spent a lot of time in the library studying, possibly researching poison and its effects.


    The answers the guard received were a good lead, but not conclusive. He then proceeded to ask some family members about the behaviour of Lucius¡¯ children, and how they acted towards their father. All of them said that they acted normally, except for the youngest, who was somewhat angry with his father, but not something too out of the ordinary. The guard then went to the children¡¯s room to look for something suspicious or incriminating. Primus anticipated this move and, while the guard was interrogating his relatives about his nephews, he planted the cup that he used to poison Lucius in Guilbaud¡¯s possessions, as well as a book containing information on diverse types of poisonous substances. The guard found the cup first while looking through Guilbaud¡¯s things. The smell of the cup was undoubtedly the same as the stained carpet, but he wasn¡¯t going to taste a sample of what was inside of the cup, seeing what had happened to the other guard when he took a bit of the carpet¡¯s poisoned stain. If that was indeed the cup used in the murder, he would be poisoned himself if he tasted it. So the guard asked Primus to see if there were any rats in the house, and if he found one, he should bring it to him, and it should be alive. Some time later, Primus returned with a rat in his hands. The guard instructed him to put the rat¡¯s mouth close to the interior of the cup, for him to lick it. When the rat licked the bottom of the cup, it started to squeak loudly and twist itself in pain, dying mere minutes afterwards. This, along with the book, were sufficient proofs to the guard that Guilbaud was the one who did it.


    Primus took the guard to his nephews to confront them. When asked if he knew anything about his father¡¯s death, Guilbaud simply responded that all he knew was that his father was poisoned, a claim also backed up by his siblings. The guard then showed him the cup and the book found in his possessions, and told him that his uncle suspected that he was the one who killed Lucius. Blanche and Ciran were outraged by these claims, as they knew neither of them could even think of doing such a thing. Guilbaud was terrified, asking himself how those things got into his possessions. Primus then pressured all three of them, accusing them of working as a group, even pointing out the fact that they didn¡¯t even speak anything in their father¡¯s funeral, claiming that they did not miss their father at all. Hearing this, Ciran took his sword and lunged at his uncle for being so vile as to say those things about them. The guard reacted quickly and managed to disarm the young man, but Ciran was still able to pierce his uncle¡¯s right shoulder. The guard then confidently believed that they plotted the death of their own father, and that they should go through a trial and be sentenced accordingly. The guard tried to take them away, but they being at three, managed to overpower him and free themselves, they then ran away, still in disbelief that their uncle could do what he did, but quickly remembered what their father said about him. Being reminded of his advice, they planned to leave Dorallan so they could find protection in Clarque¡¯s house.


    Serena did not know yet that her children were accused by Primus of murdering Lucius, as she didn¡¯t want to enter the house again, since the image of her dead husband was still in her head. She spent most of her time in the graveyard, in the front of her husband¡¯s grave, mourning his death day and night. After her children escaped from the guard, the royal council declared them wanted criminals and ordered some guards to look for them and capture them if found, so they could face trial. Knowing that Serena was still in Magne, they inquired about her children¡¯s whereabouts. Confused, she answered that they probably should be at the Pearata house, as it was their family¡¯s home. The guards noticed her confusion and explained the situation to her, saying that they were found guilty of Lucius¡¯ death. These news were too much for Serena, and she collapsed to the ground crying, saying that they couldn¡¯t have done this, that someone might¡¯ve incriminated them. The guards then told Serena that the council already decided their fate, and that her children should face trial to be punished by their actions, but they were on the run and needed to be found. Serena then asked who accused her children of murder, being then told that Primus was the one who suspected the youngest son. Realizing that her brother-in-law plotted everything to incriminate her children, and probably the one who killed her husband, she pleaded to the guards to investigate Primus some more, as she was sure they could find some evidence that he was the murderer, but the guards ignored her and remained adamant in looking for her children. Heartbroken, feeling guilty for insisting to come to Dorallan when Lucius showed suspicion towards his brother, and seeing that Primus destroyed everything that she loved, she went to the Pearata armory and took a dagger, which Laura noticed, later returning to her husband¡¯s grave and kneeling there, crying heavily, for feeling that she failed her family. She quickly prayed for her children¡¯s safety, just before stabbing herself in the chest, finally reuniting with her husband. The children went to the graveyard searching for their mother so they could all escape, arriving there, they had found the corpse of their dead mother. Their agony was too much to bear, as they had lost both of their parents on the same day. They believed that their mother¡¯s death was also the handiwork of Primus. The three then buried their mother at the side of their father¡¯s grave, putting the ring given to her by Lucius atop of her grave. They then left Dorallan, but promised to return and bring their uncle to justice.

 Hope

    About three years later, when Blanche, Ciran and Guilbaud all achieved adulthood, they departed with Clarque into Dorallan, intending to bring their uncle to justice. Over the years, Blanche maintained contact with Otho via letters, using pseudonyms and cryptic wording in order to avoid suspicion. In those letters, she explained to her friend what she planned to do to make Primus pay for his crimes: She did not want to take his life, as it would¡¯ve been too quick, and his reputation would remain. Her plans consisted in collecting irrefutable evidence to prove that he was the one who murdered his own brother, as she knew that, if proven, that would destroy his reputation forever, and the king would make him suffer the worst punishment possible.


    Before reaching Magne, Clarque entered the city first to ensure a safe arrival for the three siblings. To enter the city without drawing too much attention to them, Guilbaud devised a plan, that consisted in Clarque leaving some pieces of coal on the ground, not too close to one another, making something like a trail that passed through the less circulated streets, having Otho¡¯s house at the end of the trail. Clarque did as he was told and made the coal trail. Since he had never had seen the young man, on the last letter that Blache had sent to Otho, she explained that before she and her brothers arrived in Magne, a friend of theirs would meet him first, and that he should stay in Otho¡¯s house until she and her brothers arrived. At the end of the trail, Clarque recognized the house that Blanche described to him and knocked. To his surprise, Emil was the one who opened. When the two men saw each other, they immediately remembered the last time they had encountered each other, and Emil thought he had come back for some sort of revenge, and began to ready a punch. However, Clarque told him that he was looking for a man called Otho, and that he had important business with him. Otho heard his name and rushed to the door before any trouble could happen. Otho explained to Clarque that Emil was his father, and explained to Emil that Clarque was a friend of Blanche, the same woman to whom he had reforged some equipment years prior, and that he was there to help her. Otho¡¯s father calmed down and agreed to receive Clarque at his home, but only while they waited for Blanche and her brothers. They agreed and waited. While waiting, Ada and Clarque met again, to Emil¡¯s displeasure.


    Hours later, Blanche, Ciran and Guilbaud arrived at Emil and Otho¡¯s home, following the trail of coal pieces and collecting them along the way, so no one could follow them. When Blanche and Otho finally reencountered after all those years, they almost couldn¡¯t believe what they saw: Blanche was now a fully developed woman, with a more mature body and face. Ciran had a stronger appearance than before, with a long beard and with some scars in his arms. Guilbaud also had a more developed and stronger body, although not as strong as his older brother¡¯s. Otho had his fair share of changes too, by helping his father with blacksmithing, he was also more strong and handsome than before, rivaling both Ciran and Guilbaud. The two friends were so full of joy that they proceeded to give one another a long hug. It was clear to everyone in the house that they saw each other as more than just mere friends, although Blanche told Otho that there were more important matters than just the two of them at the time. After the proper greetings, Emil told Clarque to leave, as they both agreed that he would leave when Blanche and her brothers arrived, but the she protested, saying that he was a close friend to them, and wouldn¡¯t allow him to leave. Seeing that his son loved Blanche and would take her side, he agreed without arguing, as he didn¡¯t want to fight against his beloved son.


    The next day, after resting from their trip, Blanche, Ciran and Guilbaud had a meeting with Otho, Emil and Clarque to discuss their plan to gather evidence to not only prove their innocence, but to make Primus pay for what he had done. Guilbaud had some leads to follow, he intended to investigate the library for the book that was used to incriminate him, and possibly the library records, to find out who took the book prior to the incrimination, also the dagger that was next to their mother¡¯s corpse. Ciran mentioned the wedding, finding strange that their father was the only one poisoned, and maybe the cooks might know something about it. Even though their appearance had changed considerably, they were still wanted criminals, and couldn¡¯t reveal their presence before the appropriate time, so they sent Clarque and Otho to investigate in their place.


    Clarque went to inquire the cooks that worked on the weddings of Magne about the day Primus and Laura got married, however, unbeknownst to him, Primus paid them beforehand to ensure that they would keep their silence. After trying for hours and finding no new leads, he started to head back to Emil and Otho¡¯s home, when in the middle of the way, he found a pretty woman sat next to a fountain, crying. Drawn to her by her beauty, the Bounan sat next to her to talk, and maybe console her. When he got closer, he could see that she was pregnant. He asked her her name, and to his surprise, she told him that her name was Laura, none other than the wife of Primus. Clarque momentarily restrained himself from telling her that he knew Primus, and instead asked her what was the reason that she was crying. She said to him that ever since she married, her life was full of suffering and disdain. Laura explained to Clarque that after the day of the wedding, her husband, Primus, treated her harshly, as if he didn¡¯t like her presence around him. He barely spoke to her, and when he did, it was always in a cold or contemptible demeanor. Laura also could count on one hand the times her husband laid in bed with her, and believed she was only pregnant because Primus felt that he had to impregnate her, because even when they made love, he didn¡¯t show any expression of pleasure or happiness, neither did he when she announced that she was expecting a child. She even told Clarque that once she deliberately slept with another man, to her husband¡¯s knowledge, but he wasn¡¯t even troubled by it, as if she was a complete stranger to him.


    Clarque asked Laura if there was a reason for all of this to have happened, to which she replied that she wasn¡¯t sure. She told him that on the day of the wedding, her brother-in-law was poisoned, and later killed by his own son, and thought that maybe her husband blamed her for everything. Clarque, knowing what Primus was capable of doing to achieve his goals, suggested that maybe he never loved her, and probably just married her out of necessity. Laura was heavily offended by this, and after slapping the man in the face, she left to her home, outraged by this accusation, but with all that happened, even she started to wonder if it was true.


    Otho headed to the Magne Library instead, hoping to find some evidence that verified that Primus was involved in the murders. Guilbaud described to Otho all the details he could remember about the book, and after finding it, he took it to the librarian to gather some information about it. The librarian told him what the book was about: poisons, its effects, how to make them and how to treat them, mostly used by healers. Otho then asked about the reports for that book, to find out who took them and when. The librarian was suspicious of the man and asked him why he needed to see the reports, as only librarians or the royal council could have access to them. Otho explained that three years ago, that book was used to incriminate a young boy, to make it seem like he killed his father, and now he was trying to find evidence to punish the real murderer. The librarian wasn¡¯t really concerned about it, and was not willing to simply show the reports to someone. Otho then asked the librarian if he knew Guilbaud, as when he was in Magne before, he used to spend his whole day in the library, studying. The librarian¡¯s eyes widened, as he remembered the young boy and was an acquaintance of his, he used to have fun with the boy and his curiosity, and ever since he stopped visiting the library, the librarian wondered what fate came to him. Otho then told him that Guilbaud was the one framed for killing his father, but also told the librarian that he was, in fact, innocent, and he needed to see the reports to use it as proof. The librarian couldn¡¯t believe what was being said to him, since not once did the boy ever mention poison, let alone put his hands in a book about it. He then agreed to look at the records, and found out that the only person who rented the book and was related to Guilbaud was his uncle, Primus, and the date of the rental was weeks before the wedding, making it impossible for Guilbaud to have possession of the book. With that information, Otho thanked the librarian and went home, with the librarian wishing all of them luck in proving their innocence.


    Meanwhile, after being interrogated by Clarque, the cooks notified Primus that someone, apparently a foreigner, was asking questions about him and the wedding that Lucius died. Primus did his best to maintain his composure, even though it was one of his biggest fears, he had left out some loose ends, his nephews were still alive, and now this could be the cause of his downfall. He dismissed the cooks and began to study if they were the ones behind this investigation. The cooks said that the one who was asking them questions looked like a foreigner, so Primus was sure they were involved somehow. To make matters worse, his wife refused to make any contact with him, looking at him with disgust in her eyes. This only exacerbated the matter, as now Primus was wondering if she, or anyone else was onto him. If the king found out that he was the one to take his brother¡¯s life, and that he framed his own nephews for doing it, he would be completely ruined. Concerned about this, Primus started to grow suspicious of everyone around him, he no longer trusted anyone but himself, and started to act more erratically.


    After collecting the information they needed, Clarque and Otho returned home and explained the details of what they could gather, Otho told everyone what the librarian said to him, and Guilbaud was happy with it, since this could be a solid evidence to prove that he wasn¡¯t the one to rent the book, but not enough to verify that their uncle was the one to kill their parents. Clarque explained to the group the situation of Laura and Primus¡¯ marriage, telling them that he suspected that the wedding was only an excuse to bring Lucius and his family to Magne, and if this was proved to be true, maybe they could convince Laura to testify against Primus on the court. When Guilbaud asked Clarque what he had discovered from the cooks, Clarque replied that after hours of insistent inquiry, they wouldn¡¯t say a word about it, which prompted Blanche to deduce that maybe Primus paid them in order to ensure that his schemes wouldn¡¯t be discovered, and if this was true, it was very possible that now her uncle might be on their trail. The group now needed to act fast before Primus had the chance to disrupt their plans.


    Primus was starting to get paranoid, treating everyone around him harsher than before. He could barely sleep at night, as he thought someone could try to kill him while he slept. His wife was getting concerned, even if he treated her badly, he was still the father of her baby, and she felt she needed to do something to help him. She talked to one of the healers who worked nearby to see if she could get some medicine to help her husband sleep. There, Clarque saw her at a distance and decided to get closer and apologize for what he said the last time they had met. The two talked, and the Bounan said his apologies for his insensitive speech, then asked how the two were faring. Laura told him about Primus¡¯ paranoia, lack of sleep and fear of someone trying to take his life. Clarque realized that this was very important information and made sure to tell Guilbaud, Blanche, Ciran and the others about it. He then told Laura that he wished everything got resolved, and left.


    Knowing that their uncle was mentally unstable, Guilbaud thought to use this to their advantage, as he might do something careless. Ciran did not agree with his brother¡¯s way of thinking, saying that they wouldn¡¯t be different from their uncle if they took advantage of his mental state, to which Blanche agreed. Guilbaud, however, wanted to take down his uncle in any way possible, because he was resentful for being framed as a murderer all those years ago, and wanted his uncle to suffer. His siblings severely reprimanded him, saying that their uncle would receive his punishment from the king, not from their hands. Guilbaud didn¡¯t say anything back, but still was planning to take advantage of his uncle¡¯s paranoia.


    Due to the medicine Laura got from the healers, and by secretly putting it in her husband¡¯s food, he was able to sleep normally again, and was gradually getting less paranoid. That¡¯s when a messenger came with a letter addressed to Laura, to which Primus received and read, as his curiosity got the better of him. The letter said:


    ¡°Lady Laura,Stolen story; please report.


    I¡¯ve managed to get the information we needed, and we¡¯re prepared to act as soon as possible.


    The Eagle.¡±


    This wording reignited Primus¡¯ paranoia, since now he thought that his wife was colluding with his nephews to get revenge. The letter mentioned the cooks, so he went to the place where the cooks were working, preparing the feast for a wedding, with the intention of killing them, as he believed that they had revealed his secret. Arriving there, Primus went straight into the ones who worked on his wedding, unsheathing his sword. He managed to injure some of them and even severed one¡¯s hand, but the other cooks were able to subdue him. It was clear to them that he wasn¡¯t in his best mental state, and requested some guards nearby to escort him home. When they finally got there, the guards told Laura about what had happened, much to her shock, and started wondering about what caused her husband to go berserk like that. She couldn¡¯t even ask him directly, however, since the letter mentioned her and he believed she was plotting against him, he was much more violent and aggressive towards her.


    Guilbaud then revealed to his siblings that he had sent a letter to purposely mislead his uncle and make him act without thinking straight, in the hopes of getting him into trouble and finally make him pay. Blanche and Ciran, however, were absolutely displeased and disgusted by his actions, telling him that now he wasn¡¯t any different from their uncle, able to even sacrifice others to achieve his own goals. Clarque then stepped in to talk to the youngest, saying that his uncle¡¯s thirst for revenge was what caused his parents¡¯ deaths, and if he was willing to use any means to have his revenge, other people, even innocent ones, could pay the price, making them wanting to take revenge on him, and that¡¯s not what his parents wanted for him. Even Otho made a small speech, saying the same thing that he said to Blanche three years ago: That even though he and his family weren''t wealthy, they were united and loved each other, something that no amount of money could buy. Otho pointed out that Guilbaud and his siblings already had that, and even though their parents were no longer alive, they still had one another, and he should be careful to not lose that. They then left Guilbaud alone to think about it.


    The next day, Guilbaud apologized for his actions, and was willing to prove his uncle¡¯s involvement in his parents¡¯ deaths the right way. Both Blanche and Ciran forgave him, as the three of them were all that was left of both Lucius and Serena. Ciran then pointed out that, because of this incident, they most likely could no longer count with Laura¡¯s help, something that was invaluable to prove that Primus had set up everything to take their parents¡¯ lives. Blanche thought of a way to fix the situation, but not without risk, as they now needed to talk to Laura. They asked Clarque to look for her around the city and if he spotted her, to take her to Otho and Emil¡¯s house, so they could talk. Otho was against this idea, as it would be too risky for them, because if Laura decided to not help them, she could tell Primus about their plan and location, putting everything to waste. Blanche insisted on the idea, since she feared that the evidence of the book would be insufficient to prove that their uncle was a murderer.


    The next days, Clarque always walked around near the fountain he once saw Laura crying, in the hopes of finding her, he also had the company of Ada, since they figured out that having a woman with him would make Laura less suspicious of the whole ordeal, and it would be a great opportunity for the two to talk without being interrupted by Emil. About a week later, they saw Laura, and approached her to talk. Clarque introduced Ada to her, presenting her as his lover, to both of the women¡¯s surprise, although Ada did not deny this. After some time talking, Clarque asked about her husband, already knowing what she would answer. She replied saying that he was even more erratic and aggressive than before, mostly after he received a letter addressed to her, which she thought was a prank of their neighbors to mock Primus¡¯ mental state. Clarque then told her that he might know where the letter came from, she just needed to follow them, also assuring that no harm would ever come to her. Laura was suspicious about it, but since they were friendly and seemingly trustworthy, she followed them to Otho and Emil¡¯s home.


    There, Laura reencountered her nephews, surprised to see them again after their disappearance, but also frightened, as she still thought they were the ones to kill Lucius. They quickly assured her that they did not take their father¡¯s life, but needed her help to prove their innocence. This calmed her down, but she was still a bit nervous. Blanche then took the lead and explained the story of their parents to her aunt, from the day they met until the day they died. Blanche told her that her parents were everything that she and her brothers had, and in a span of days, both their father and mother were taken away from them. Guilbaud then proceeded saying that they had reason to believe that Primus was the one behind the death of their parents, revealing to her the information that Otho received from the library and the dagger found next to their mother¡¯s corpse, supposedly used by him to take her life.


    Laura didn¡¯t know exactly what to think. The library reports couldn¡¯t be any sort of coincidence, since Primus was the one who organized everything, and it could be used as an opportunity to do something to his brother, but she couldn¡¯t understand why her husband would do something like that. Blanche then explained that due to her father¡¯s actions, the Pearatas would no longer be eligible to take the mantle of duke or duchess, something that was the last wish of their late grandfather. Blanche also told Laura that, before her father died, he told her and her brothers what their uncle had said in their father¡¯s last visit to Magne, that Lucius should relinquish his wife and kids to reinstate their status as nobles, and that by having his proposal rejected, Primus would seek vengeance against their family, taking both of their parents¡¯ lives. Laura was stunned, but quickly refuted the claims that her husband was the one to kill their mother, and told them that Serena was the one who took the dagger from the armory, and since Primus was in the house the entire day, he couldn¡¯t be the one who took her life, but Serena herself. She couldn¡¯t, however, refute the theory of her husband¡¯s plots of revenge, as there were proofs that he was planning things ahead of time. This explanation made even more sense when she took account of the way Primus treated her, she started to think that the wedding itself was a setup to lure Lucius and his family there. Nevermind the fact of his recent paranoia, fearing for his reputation and his life.


    After Laura inquired the three if what happened wasn¡¯t the fault of their parents, or if their deaths would justify taking their uncle¡¯s, Guilbaud then told her that their parents already paid the price for their past actions, but they were still murdered, and the killer had to be punished. Ciran also reassured her that their plan wasn¡¯t to kill their uncle, neither to take his possessions or heritage, but to bring him to court, as taking his life would begin another thread of revenge, and that wouldn¡¯t do justice to Lucius and Serena¡¯s legacy. Primus was still their uncle, and they wouldn¡¯t stain their hands with the blood of their own kin. Blanche then asked Laura for her help to prove that Primus was the one behind Lucius¡¯ assassination, to which she promptly refused, claiming she wouldn¡¯t ever be against her husband, and despite the way he treated her, he was still the father of her baby. Before Blanche could say anything, Clarque stopped her and said to Laura that she could go, but if she ever changed her mind, she knew where to find them, also asking her to not tell their location to Primus, since he could be reckless and try to kill them. Then, after learning the truth of their mother¡¯s death, they each took a flower and gave it to Clarque to put on her grave, promising to not forget her legacy, and to make things right.


    On her way home, Laura thought of telling everything to her husband, but when considered the possibility of the wedding being just a pretext, and that her husband never loved her, she decided against it. The following days, due to the medication, Primus started to calm down and sleep again. One day, during his slumber, Primus started chanting that he would ¡°finish what he started¡±, and that his ¡°revenge will be complete¡±, something that one of his cousins heard, later telling Laura about it, thinking Primus was talking about her. She, however, saw that as a final confirmation that her husband was the one to take Lucius¡¯ life. Laura then told the cousin that there was nothing to worry about, and that she could handle herself. This news made her question herself whether she should help or not her nephews. She thought about herself, their baby and the story told to her by Blanche, pondering if her child would receive the same love and care her nephews had received from their parents, since she wondered if Primus would accept their baby or reject it. Laura couldn¡¯t sleep the entire night, thinking about what she should do, finally deciding to help her nephews, doing it for the sake of her child, because she did not want for them to feel rejected, or to submit them to the cycle of revenge.


    The next day, when Laura left the house to stroll around the city, she went into Otho and Emil¡¯s house to talk to her nephews. She told them what she knew and that she decided to cooperate with them, although it might be a thing she wasn¡¯t really proud of, she was doing it for her child. Blanche, Ciran and Guilbaud were happy with this, and were ready to reveal themselves to the council for their trial. They then departed together, reached the castle and demanded to talk to the council. When the guards inquired about their intentions, Blanche and her brothers revealed themselves, claiming they had proof of their innocence, and requested the presence of Primus. Once he arrived and saw his three nephews, he immediately recognized them by their amulets given to them by their father, and started to panic, but maintained his composure, exchanging nothing but stares.


    During the trial, Guilbaud and Ciran explained to the judge about the library reports, saying that Primus was the one who rented the book found in Guilbaud¡¯s possessions, and that was even before his wedding with Laura took place, meaning that he was possibly planning his brother¡¯s death before he arrived. This was also backed up by Laura, who told the council about Primus¡¯ behaviour during the wedding ceremony and afterwards, concluding her speech with the claim that, during his sleep, Primus promised to ¡°conclude his vengeance¡±. After all of this, the judge declared the three children of Lucius as innocent. However, he didn¡¯t believe that their claims were sufficient enough to convict Primus as the murderer of his brother, much to the shock of the three. Ciran and Guilbaud were outraged, but thanks to their sister¡¯s quick intervention, they were unable to do or say anything reckless.


    Unbeknownst to them, Clarque and Ada persuaded the cooks to testify against Primus, since after his attack on them, this could be their chance to make him pay for what he did. Clarque then asked the cooks to enter the courtroom, to everyone¡¯s surprise. The one cook that lost his hand took the front and began to give his testimony, saying that they were paid by Primus to poison a goblet of wine intended for his sister-in-law, something that backfired and ended up poisoning his brother instead, and while they didn¡¯t had the vial of poison, they still had the letter Primus sent to them, containing instructions, and gave it to the judge, who verified Primus¡¯ handwriting and the symbol of the Pearatas. Due to this irrefutable evidence, the judge recognized Primus¡¯ intention of taking the lives of his relatives, and sentenced him to a lifetime of imprisonment, but also punished the cooks for assisting in Primus¡¯ attempt of murder, however a much lighter punishment in comparison.


    Enraged, and feeling betrayed, Primus quickly snatched a sword from a guard nearby and leapt towards Laura. Reacting fast, Guilbaud jumped in front of Laura in order to intercept the blow. Laura was unscathed, but Guilbaud was severely injured. The guards then held Primus and took him to prison, while Blanche, Ciran, Clarque and Otho tended to Guilbaud, waiting for the healers to come. Losing too much blood, Guilbaud told his siblings that he was happy with the outcome regardless, their uncle was imprisoned and since he attacked a close relative, the king would enact the most severe punishment on him for the rest of his days. After thanking them for making him able to see that this was, indeed, the best way to make his uncle pay for his crimes, and feeling he had honoured his parents¡¯ legacy, he passed away, much to the despair of his siblings.


    Later, after mourning the death of her younger brother, Blanche presented herself to king Thaddeus, who praised her wisdom and her use of nonviolent means to bring her uncle to justice. The king, fulfilling his end of the bargain, promised that Primus would be imprisoned and tortured until the end of his days. Blanche replied saying that she deserves no praise, since she had lost much to get where she was, and after the death of Guilbaud, she felt like that was an empty victory. Nevertheless, with her family¡¯s name now cleared from its shame, the king proposed to her a position in the royal council, since he figured the council would benefit greatly from her wisdom, also proposing to Ciran a position in the royal guard, saying that the Pearata name would be remembered aeons to come. Blanche then accepted the king¡¯s proposals on one condition: rename the house from Pearata to Peranza, her family name before all the tragedies unfolded, as a testament to her parents¡¯ legacy.


    During the following years, Blanche and Otho married and had kids of their own, as well as Ciran, marrying a lady from the noble Lanstrom house and having his own kids, unknowingly fulfilling his grandfather¡¯s last wish. Laura named her son ¡°Guilbaud¡±, as a memory to the person who saved both their lives. Even Clarque and Ada managed to form a family of their own, with the approval of Emil after Clarque showed to him that he was a true friend and caretaker of his daughter-in-law. The Peranza family was remarked as one of the most united and loved in the entire kingdom.